[Jackson and Josephine Counties, OR, Nov 17, 2022]— In order to help community members effectively participate in Oregon’s complex land-use planning system, Rogue Advocates released a new community resource guide called “Participating in Land Use Planning”. This release comes at a timely moment when Oregon’s farm and forest lands are being converted by urban growth boundary expansions and new development. …
This month, we are celebrating our 15th anniversary of working to protect farmland, forests, and open space in the Rogue Valley by recognizing highlights to mark this milestone! Often working quietly from behind the scenes and sometimes going without notice, we bet some of these actions may surprise you. We hope you learn something new and get to know us better! Looking …
Mail Tribune, Guest View, Local Opinions, April 3, 2022 In case you haven’t noticed we are in an ever-worsening drought in the region. It’s clear to anyone who’s watching that the climate change chickens have come home to roost with a vengeance and the Rogue Valley is once again staring down the barrel of another fast approaching long, hot, high-risk …
Become a Master Climate Protector! Register today for Southern Oregon Climate Action Now’s 7th annual course starting on February 9, 2022. This is a 10-week course, held on Zoom every Wednesday from 6-9 pm. This course is limited to the first 20 participants; tuition payment guarantees your seat! Visit https://socanmcp.eco/ to learn more and sign up! Modeled on the extremely popular Jackson …
Guest Opinion published in the Mail Tribune on September 6, 2021. Gov. Kate Brown recently appeared on CNN saying, “Climate change is here, it’s real and it’s like a hammer hitting us in the head — and we have to take action.” Brown then singled out her recent signing of a “clean energy bill” (HB 2021) as evidence that Oregon …
Join SOCAN’s Ashland Climate Action Project next Thursday from 7-8:30pm via Zoom for a special event: “Rethinking Streets: Lessons for Ashland” where they will be discussing community safety, health, climate, affordability, equity, and more. The free event is being hosted by the Ashland Climate Action Project and the Ashland Bicycle Advocacy Group. Join the conversation and register on their website …
Pepper Trail, Vice President Rogue Advocates, and Craig Anderson, Land Use Program Manager, were interviewed by the Jefferson Exchange about the Ashland Annexation appeal on July 8, 2021. Listen to the recorded interview here: Jefferson Exchange Public Radio Jefferson Public Radio wrote: “The Rogue Valley needs more affordable housing, and Ashland acutely so. But when a plan was created to …
Article by Damian Mann published in Ashland Tidings on June 11, 2021. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals recently rejected a zone change by Jackson County commissioners that could have opened the door to widespread development of rural properties. “It is difficult if not impossible to understand what findings the Board of Commissioners relied upon to support the decision,” …
Written by Jimmy MacLeod. Published in the Mail Tribune on Jun 10, 2021. Is public safety “tinsel on a tree”? With little discussion, despite a hearings record of over 1,000 pages, the Ashland City Council unanimously approved the “Grand Terrace” annexation in December last year. As envisioned by the developer, the annexation would have resulted in the construction of 196 …
Article by Damian Mann published in Ashland Tidings on June 4, 2021. Ashland’s attempt to annex 17 acres for a proposed apartment complex was rejected recently by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. “The decision we made is incorrect,” said Bill Molnar, city planner, at a May 25 Planning Commission meeting. The city approved the annexation, which would have …
Ashland, OR. May 14, 2021 – In response to two separate petitions filed by Rogue Advocates, a public-interest land use watchdog, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) has reversed an annexation approval by the City of Ashland and remanded a zone change approval by Jackson County. On May 12, LUBA agreed with Rogue Advocates that the City of Ashland did not follow their municipal code in approving the Grand Terrace annexation just north of the city limits on Highway 99. The next day, LUBA again ruled in favor of Rogue Advocates when they …
